What to do when a Comerica account holder dies
Report the death to Comerica's Probate Team at 1-888-795-1986
Comerica merged into Fifth Third BankMerged, effective February 2026
Fifth Third Bancorp closed its merger with Comerica Incorporated on February 1, 2026 (announced February 2, 2026), forming the ninth-largest U.S. bank at approximately $294 billion in assets. FDIC BankFind records the Comerica Bank charter (Cert 983) as inactive with an end date of 02/01/2026. The brand and systems conversion, originally announced for the third quarter, completed over Labor Day weekend 2026: the final Comerica statement covered activity through September 4, 2026; Fifth Third online and mobile banking access opened September 8, 2026; mortgages transferred September 1, 2026; and Comerica branches now operate as Fifth Third branches. Comerica debit cards and Comerica-branded checks continue to work, but customers must create new Fifth Third credentials at 53.com/enroll rather than reusing a Comerica user ID. Deposits held at each legacy bank remained separately FDIC insured for six months from the February 1, 2026 closing, with CDs maturing after August 1, 2026 insured separately until maturity. Report a death on a former Comerica account to Fifth Third.
When an account holder at Comerica passes away, the next step depends on how the accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with Comerica's Probate Team (1-888-795-1986) to access and distribute the funds.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Comerica requires:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Death certificate, for a personal loan whose owner has diedSent to the Probate Team with any other legal documents.
- Documentation Fifth Third reasonably requestsTo verify the death and determine who is entitled to the funds.
- Satisfactory proof of the owner's death and of the beneficiary's survival, for a payable-on-death or "In Trust For" accountFifth Third reserves the right to require it.
- Documents showing the fiduciary's authority, to open an estate, trust, guardianship or conservator accountFifth Third need not permit changes or withdrawals until it receives all requested documents.
What happens to each kind of account4
- Payable-on-death account
The balance of a payable-on-death or "In Trust For" account at the owner's death belongs to the beneficiary, if the beneficiary survives the owner. A beneficiary named on the signature card supersedes and revokes any earlier beneficiary.1
Payment to the beneficiary after the owner's death is a full release and discharge of Fifth Third, binding on the owner's heirs, executors, administrators and assigns.1
- Joint account with survivorship
An account with more than one owner is held with right of survivorship: at an owner's death the balance belongs to the survivor, subject to set off and any pledge or security agreements.1
On notice of a joint owner's death, Fifth Third may restrict or prohibit further withdrawals until it is satisfied that its obligations under applicable law and the Deposit Account Rules have been met.1
- Trust account
For a trust account, the trust is the customer and the current trustees are the signers. When a trustee dies or resigns, the successor trustee appointed by the trust or by court order becomes the trustee.1
- Fiduciary account
Fifth Third has no fiduciary duty to the trustee, executor, guardian or conservator on a fiduciary account, or to the account's beneficial owners.1
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Fifth Third Probate Team
Personal loans whose owner has died2
Phone: 1-888-795-1986
Email: Probate@53.com
Fax: 1-616-653-2455
Mailing address: Fifth Third Bank, Attn: Probate Team, 1830 East Paris Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
What Comerica's agreement and guidance say7
- Telling the institution
Account owners agree to notify Fifth Third immediately if any owner or signer on the account dies.1
- What it does when notified
When Fifth Third receives notice of a death it may freeze the account and refuse to permit withdrawals or accept deposits. It need not release the funds until it receives the documentation it reasonably requests to verify the death and determine who is entitled to them.1
- Wills, probate and small estates
Fifth Third may accept and comply with court orders and take direction from court-appointed representatives, guardians or conservators from states other than the state where the account is located.1
- Debts owed to the institution
Fifth Third may charge a debt owed to it or an affiliate to any deposit account in the customer's name or a joint owner's name, and may set off against any funds in the customer's account to pay it.1
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
Unless the product disclosures say otherwise, a checking account is treated as dormant after 12 months with no deposits or withdrawals and a savings account after 36 months. Fifth Third may charge a dormant account fee.1
Interest stops when an account becomes abandoned, and abandoned accounts are subject to escheatment to the State Treasury of the customer's last address of record as unclaimed property.1
- Accounts from a merged institution
Former Comerica deposit accounts and other loans are now Fifth Third accounts, and their checks, debit cards, direct deposits and account numbers still work. Comerica's final statement reflects activity through September 4, 2026.3
Comerica mortgages moved to Fifth Third Bank on September 1, 2026, and home equity accounts are now Fifth Third home equity loans. Each has a new Fifth Third account number, payment address and contact information.3
- Online access
Former Comerica accounts are reached through Fifth Third Online and Mobile Banking with new Fifth Third credentials, not the Comerica user ID and password. Six months of transaction history and 24 months of statements transferred to Fifth Third.3
Not in Comerica's published guidance4
- An online way to report a death
- A procedure for reporting a death, for deposit accounts
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
- How long a claim takes
Sources3
- 1.Deposit Account Rules & Regulations, Issue Date: June 25, 2026
- 2.Mortgage, Personal Loan, and Auto Loan FAQs
- 3.Fifth Third Welcome Center
Comerica's Probate Team can be reached by phone at 1-888-795-1986, email at Probate@53.com, and fax at 1-616-653-2455 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Comerica primary sources (11 pages reviewed). How we research.
Comerica death claims support
Probate Team
Phone
Customer Service
Fax
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Comerica accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.
Small Estate Affidavit
Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need and see ordering info for your state.
Do I Need Probate?
Find out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Find out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
A step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.
